Some former Buckeyes are biding their time as the 2014 NFL Draft looms closer.

Former Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby and linebacker Ryan Shazier are both expected by many NFL draft experts to be picked up late in the first round Thursday at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Roby, who was a three-year starter for the Buckeyes, finished his OSU career with eight interceptions and 179 total tackles.

Shazier, who coach Urban Meyer called “one of best LBs to play at Ohio State,” via his personal Twitter account @OSUCoachMeyer, was an Associated Press All-American in 2013.

Both are among the record 30 players invited to the draft, which has typically been an invitation held for those expected to go early in the first round.

Roby and Shazier each chose to forgo their final years of eligibility in Columbus to pursue the NFL.

OSU is second all time with 67 first-round picks, trailing the University of Southern California at 77, and third all time in overall draft picks at 405, behind USC at No. 1 and Notre Dame.

Another former Buckeye who has a chance to go in the first round is running back Carlos Hyde.

Hyde, who was the first ever 1,000-yard rusher under Meyer, dominated his opponents in 2013 rushing for nearly 140 yards per game despite missing the first three games due to suspension.

Hyde is expected by many NFL draft experts, including ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., to be the first running back off the board.

Hyde would not have been able to gain all of those yards without a stellar offensive line, which graduated four of five starters from the 2013 season.

Leading the way from that line is tackle Jack Mewhort, who, according to CBS Sports, is a projected second-round talent.

Also eligible for the draft are former Buckeye guards Marcus Hall and Andrew Norwell as well as center Corey Linsley.

Other notable Buckeyes that will be trying to make an NFL team come the fall are wide receiver Corey “Philly” Brown and fan-favorite quarterback Kenny Guiton.

Brown, like Guiton and Roby, went through three different head coaches in his time at OSU and was, for the most part, consistent.

Brown was especially productive under Meyer, leading the Buckeyes in receiving the last two seasons with a total of 123 catches for 1,440 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Guiton, who became a Buckeye legend during his redshirt-junior season after leading a comeback to beat Purdue 29-22 in overtime Oct. 20, 2012 at Ohio Stadium, has an outside chance at being taken in the later rounds despite being a backup for the entirety of his OSU career.

Guiton filled in masterfully for injured starter Braxton Miller in 2013, throwing for 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions including a six-touchdown first-half performance against Florida A&M – which is an OSU record.

According to Kiper, Guiton has a chance of being taken in the fifth or sixth rounds of the draft, which are set to take place Sunday.

Other notable Buckeyes who are draft-eligible but not expected to be taken are wide receiver Chris Fields, and safeties C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant.

Both Bryant and Barnett were named as OSU captains prior to the 2013 season.

Bryant, who suffered a season-ending leg injury against Wisconsin, was denied a medical redshirt appeal by the NCAA in February.

The first round of the draft is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Correction: A prior version of this story stated the first round of the draft starts Friday. In fact, the draft begins on Thursday.

4 comments

First I want to say T Sizzle (Suggs, Ravens) I hope what you said on TMZ was WRONG!!! John Harbaugh LUVS his female fans who enjoy and know sports. I hope you were commenting on GROUPIES!!! TMZ has become legit now in breaking stories sadly! hahaha Now GOOD LUCK to all the Buckeyes headed into the draft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO excited da bucks are coming to town to battle Navy. Wait I need to ask my baby buck grad do we have our tics?????? hahahaha

PSU Franklin is cleaning Meyer’s and Johnson’s clock in recruiting. PSU just landed 4 stars Jenkins and OSU’s top priority QB Wimbush. Additionally PSU is going to Georgia state’s high school football camp this June to coach. This Georgia coaching will help their recruiting in GA.

Franklin is one motivated guy. In a short time, he had demonstrated spectacular success in recruiting. This early success has improved PSU’s image and if this success continues it will make difficult for OSU to recruit against them.

Meyer and company need to wake up and up their game if they are going to compete against Franklin.